Packed agenda for BCCI working committee meeting

With the working committee meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) less than twenty four hours away, several key issues remain unresolved. The image of cricket has taken such a severe bashing in the recent past that it is difficult for most to be optimistic. There are a fair few cynics of the opinion that the phrase 'BCCI working committee' is a classic oxymoron. The President of the BCCI, AC Muthiah will have a lot of work if he wants to dispel that image.

Naturally the key issue in this meeting will be matchfixing, betting and anything that falls under that umbrella. However, that is not explicitly on the agenda. The BCCI instead will focus more mundane, administrative issues. The itinerary for the tours of India by Australia and Zimbabwe have to be discussed and the final points established. Another tour that needs a lot of attention is the proposed tour of Pakistan. With political tensions weighing heavily between the coutries, the BCCI will be under pressure to take a stance on whether they should play Pakistan or not.

Another matter that is of worry is the fact that the BCCI has not yet circulated its balance sheet for the financial year that recently ended. In its 71 year existence, this is the first time that the BCCI has failed to furnish details about its financial status.

After many years of demands for the grass roots level programmes to be strengthened, the BCCI finally set up the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore earlier this year. Although the academy is still in its infancy, the BCCI will take stock of its progress. It must be remembered that the NCA XI was defeated in humiliating fashion by a league team from Chennai in the KSCA Diamond Jubilee tournament not long ago.

The BCCI also has to go about the nitty-gritties of discussing the various aspects related to sub-committees. Finances for local tournaments, the domestic schedule for the year and the budget will also have to be finalised. All this in just two days.

Meetings in the past have seldom witnessed landmark rulings. Although these meetings are approached with the best of intentions, the unwieldy nature of dealing with a large number of sub-committees and areas makes it difficult to take tough decisions. The BCCI is never going to please everyone. And hopefully they will not lose sight of real goals in attempting to do so.